Dream Job = Great 1st Impression

While managing an RV Resort in Texas, my husband and I quickly realized many Workampers seemed quite ‘stiff’ when called upon for an open position. After undergoing our first round of hiring, we encountered everything from awkward phone interviews to incomplete resumes and inappropriate pictures. There seemed to just be no status quo, on what was expected and what is considered acceptable.

Don’t miss out on your dream job by giving a bad first impression!

First impressions are everything, especially when you’re communicating through phone and internet. The employer won’t have a chance to ‘love’ your personality, if he can’t get past the incomplete resume you sent over last week. Treat Workamping as you would any other job, be prepared and put your best foot forward. Wow the employer with your professionalism. Then the awesome attitude, incredible skills, and killer customer service will all be able to speak for themselves.

Be the best you, you can be… Be prepared!

Create a resume

Everyone looking for employment needs a resume, regardless of if you’re a Workamper or not.You’ll need a resume for yourself and your travel partner. We don’t recommend dual resumes, unless you both have exactly the same skills for every employer.

Just sit down for a few hours and type up a nice resume with your work experience, volunteer work, and maybe your hobbies on it. Against popular belief, the ages of your kids, grandkids, dogs, cats, and fish aren’t what the employer is looking for, so leave those off.

Your name should be big and bold at the top, with your phone number and email address directly below it. Make it easy for the employer to contact you.

List your previous work history, starting with the most current. Include all relevant experience, not just Workamping jobs. If you were an Electrician for 30yrs, you should definitely include these skills.

Employers are looking for specific positions, as well as people who they can cross train. Don’t box yourself in. Let them know if you have skills in multiple areas, it will help set you apart from the other applicants.

*** Workamper News’ Gold Membership has an Awesome Applicants Resume Builder! Some Employers search f or Workampers exclusively through this search option. It’s easy to use and you can send your resume to jobs you find with the push of a button!!!!

Select a picture

A picture is worth a thousand words, so pick your words wisely. If you’re sending a picture along with your resume, which is definitely a trend, make sure it’s a really good one. Don’t just pick one and send, because they asked for one.

Skip the pics in the bathing suits and the selfies showing half of your face and all of Mount Rushmore. The employer knows you’re a Workamper, they know you travel to awesome places… don’t rub it in. Be professional.

Your picture should be a simple photo, preferably a head shot. Less is more.

Know your needs:

Before you apply to your first Workamping job, make sure you take some time to think about what you are looking for.

There are things that you need to have and things you want to have. Know the difference, and keep it simple.

When are you available? What salary range do you expect? Do you need a fhu? Will you work the same days as your partner? How many hours do you want?

Make a list of your top 5 requirements. Once you know what exactly you’re looking for, you’ll know what ads to respond to and what to ask in your emails and interviews.

Have an awesome interview

Have your list of requirements handy, while you interview with potential employers. Grab a blank sheet of paper and takes notes, so you’ll have the information to review later.

They’ll fill your head of various facts about their businesses and the positions they are offering, then ask if you have any questions.

This is your chance. If they haven’t already addressed your list of requirements, make sure to ask for clarification on those topics. Write down their responses and thank them for taking the time to talk to you.

Compare and accept offers

After you complete your interviews for the day or even the week, go back over your notes and see how each job offer compares to the others.

Armed with all the information you collected, you have everything you need to make an informed decision on which job is right for you.

I know from personal experience, that interviewing for multiple jobs in the same day or even the same week, can become very stressful. But Workamping is fun, and finding the jobs should be just as fun, in my opinion. Being profession and prepared means knowing you’re putting your very best foot forward, which will help ease some of the stress and make the process more enjoyable, especially when you receive that employment offer from the job you’ve been dreaming about.